Waeco fridge temperature??

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 15:45

ThreadID: 80942 Views:12559 Replies:5 FollowUps:5

This Thread has been Archived

Portable Fridges

The debate over which fridge is the best on the market is one of the most contested discussions in the camping recreation. In this article we look at the range of features and the major issues to

Signman

Hi all,
We have a Waeco CF60 (yes- we went to the 'dark side').
I SET the temp. at 4 degs- (a good temp. for cryovaced stuff etc), the indicator shows it cycling at 2 degs., however an electronic thermometer with the probe in the fridge shows temps up to 7 degs.??
Is this normal??
Cheers

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 16:28

Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 16:28

Have had mine set at -10 and used it as a freezer and the small container as a fridge and it worked fine at that for a year.

It can depend on where the two temps are in relation to each other in the fridge as well.

AnswerID: 428413

Reply By: Member No 1- Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 16:38

Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 16:38

set your thermostat at -5....and put in a plastic container of water....if it freezes then your digital thermomter is out...if it shows above zero?

AnswerID: 428414

Reply By: Andrew & Jen - Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 17:21

Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 17:21

Was it empty or did it have something in it when you did these tests?
I find that when empty (when I first turn it on prior to putting stuff in it), it (mine is a CF50) tends to "hunt" a bit re temps. Having placed food in it, it settles down to more consistent temp.
The temp will also vary a bit depending on where the probe is vis a vis the fridge sensor.
Cheers
A

AnswerID: 428420

Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 18:11

Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010 at 18:11

To check and set the fridge running temperature, 3/4 fill the fridge/freezer area with anything you want that you normally put into the fridge/freezer area, then run on 240v for at least 12 hours with lid closed to get to premium cooling conditions with the probe of your temp gauge in the center of the empty top area of the fridge above the 'product' you have placed in the cabinet.
You do this by supporting the temperature probe/gauge with string running from all 4 sides of the fridge cabinet, so it sits mid air, not touching anything at all (except string)

Now the temp gauge/probe will be sitting in the center of the empty area of the cabinet.
Open lid for a few minutes after 12 hours, see what happens to temperature numbers.

Then over time adjust the fridge temperature so the 'usual' temperature measured at the suspended probe/gauge generally stays below about +5° or +6° when *used in general use* - as the fridge temperature will go up when the lid is opened and will go back to the 5° or 6° after a short while.

This temperature will keep cold things much colder at the bottom of the fridge cabinet and the top area will remain at a reliable temp for healthy conditions of your food and also your power source too.

Maîneÿ . . .

AnswerID: 428429

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 13:40

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 13:40

I think you will find that reading is the average and will bear no resemblance to current temp.
I use a separate temp guage, to get current reading

Pedro

FollowupID: 699204

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 17:00

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 17:00

Pedro,
How do you arrive at that thought ??

If it's an independent measuring device positioned in the center of the fridge cabinet in the warmest part of the cabinet, it will be giving the warmest temperature in the cabinet.
It will be reading the temperature where it is positioned, that is why it is positioned in 'mid air' and not near the sides, so the temp numbers are not representative of any food product contained in the fridge cabinet.

It is giving out the temperature in 'real' time, as the fridge lid is opened the temperature will go up, when closed it will go back down, when the compressor starts it will go down even further.

Image Could Not Be FoundMaîneÿ . . .

FollowupID: 699216

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 18:00

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 18:00

What I meant was that the setting on the Waeco fridge is the average temp, according to info given to me by Waeco .

This will be at variance to the temp shown on the independent guage as shown by you.

In my own case I rely on the independent guage for temperature checking and set the Waeco at a level that keeps the beer cold.
In my CF50 -2 on Waeco usually gives a reading of 4 on Waeco independent guage.

If i set the Waeco to 4 I was getting hot beer at -2 the beer is cold , and not frozen as one would expect if that temp was constant.

Pedro

FollowupID: 699219

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 18:17

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 18:17

I'm not sure beer will freeze at -2 however it definitely tastes better at those very cold temperatures on a hot day :)

Maîneÿ . . .

FollowupID: 699222

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 19:03

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 19:03

I had this very discussion with a Waeco repair technician with regard to a CF40 but would expect it to be the same.
He explained it as follows:
The probe that reads the temp is in the bottom under the base so will be influence by the temperature of what you put in there. ie if you put some frozen peas in the bottom and a warm beer on the top the probe will read the radiant temp of the frozen item and cycle off that.The same would be in reverse with a warm item on the base. So it will be 24hrs or so before you will get a average reading.
Some other brands have the probe exposed in the storage area but that also puts them at the risk of mechanical damage.

So in summary the gauge should be used as a reference point, get to know your own fridge will a bit of trial and error, I use a separate gauge in the top of the fridge as well.

FollowupID: 699227

Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Thursday, Sep 02, 2010 at 14:51

Thursday, Sep 02, 2010 at 14:51

Dave,
Please contact me regarding the black vynil stick on for my 200 Series .
You remember I gave you the $100 roof racks as a contra for this job.
Send me a member message if you have not got my email.
Thanks,
Mike.

AnswerID: 429185